Side ported cementing apparatus



R. C. BAKER ET AL SIDE PORTED CEMENTING APPARATUS April 7, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Jan. 12, 1948 in fm f @a 9 @a A Sil 4 ZT# .d y, 2

` IN V EN TORS. PEsE/v C`. BAKER, B zio'hw BAKE@ Y 6?/ /'a/,k/

ATTORNEY.

April 7, 1953 RL c. BAKER ET AL SIDE PORTED CEMENTING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Elm w Filed Jan. y 1g, 194e INVENTORS. Pez/.SEN C BAKER, :Z5/,w R BAKER, Bv 77am ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 7, "1953 omer SIDE PORTED CEMENTING APPARATUSA Reuben'C. Baker, Coalinga, and John R. Baker, Pasadena, Calif., assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Incl., Vernon', Calif., a corporation of California.

ApplicationJanuary 12, 1948, Serial No. 1,844

20 Claims; (Cl. 166-1) The present invention relates todevices adapt ed toiorm part of casings, liners and similar conduits inwell bores, and more particularly to side ported cementing devices for use incement-y ing conduits in well bores.

Well casings, liners and similar well conduits are sometimes secured in well bores by disc-harging cementitious material through sideI ports' inV affittingl or fittingsV forming part of the conduit structure itself. After the cementing operating has been performed, it is desired to render-the fitting imperforate by closing its, ports.` against passage of' fluidsA in bothV directions between the interior` and exterior of the fitting.

Anvobject of the present invention is to pro.- vide. an improvedported apparatus' in which thel ports areinitially closed, the4 ports being capable of .being opened and then reclosed to prevent fluid fiow through them in both directions vbe-l tween the interior and' exterior of the.` apparatus.A Another object of the; invention is to prevent inadvertent opening of the apparatus ports after theyY have, been reclosed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide. improved means,` for locking a sleeve valve or the like in a. predetermined position withrespect to the ports of aconduit apparatus.. g .i A further object of the invention. is to provide improved stop.v means for limiting, the extent of. downward movement of asleeve; valve adapted; tocontrol'. fluid fiowthroughythe ports of a conduitV apparatus.

Yet another object of. the inventiony is to, provide: an improved cementingy plug, particularly useful-in connectionwtli the shifting, of` asleeve valve to closed; position acrossy the ports of` a conduit apparatus located in. a well bore. y

This4 invention has other objects which will be,- come apparent from` a consideration of the. einbodiment shownin the drawingsv accompanying and' forming part of the present specification. This embodiment will now be described in detail to illustrate the general principles of the inven tion, butv it is to be. understood that such detailedv description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the claims appended hereto.

Referring. to the drawings: K

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a ported Well apparatus, with ports closed and the parts arranged for running-.the apparatus in. a well bore;

2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with' the ports opened;

Fig. `3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section'oftheapparatus, with the parts arranged` intermediate their port closing and opening positions;

Fig. 4'is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the partsoccupying another position;

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig; 1, with the ports reclosed; and

Fig.` 6 is an enlarged fragmentaryY longitudinal section of a modifledform of the invention.

As disclosed inthe drawings, a casing collar A has its upper and lower endsthreadedly connestedV to the ends of upper and lower casing` sections B, C, formingpart of a casing string v adapted to be run in awell borev to positionthe collar at the desired location therein. i

. The4 collar includes a tubular member I0 whose' member l5 having sealY rings IB, i1 disposed in suitable ring grooves. i8' onv opposite sidesl of the ports.. These. ringsmay-be ofv rubber and of round cross; section to prevent leakage thereby in both longitudinal directions.

The lower inner sleeve valve member l5 is retained inposition to, locate its seal ringsnll, I1 on. opposite sidesy of. the 4ports i4 by' one orf more frangible devices inthe. form of shear screws I9 threaded through the tubular memberv I [I` and extend-ing into the valve member. This member I5 also. carries a side seal 2,0 in a groove 21 below the shear` screws. The seal 20 has an upwardly. extending lip 22- for sealing with the wallof the tubular member.

It is to be noted that the inside diameter of the tubular member l0 at the region where it is engaged by the lower seal ring I1 is less than ther internal diameter of a groove 23 in the member iiir immediately below this region. Also, thesleeve valve member l5 is reduced inexternalA diameter to form a peripheral groove Zllfbelow the lower seal ring Il, inwhich a split, inherently expansible stop ring 25 is located. The stop ring has an upper, inner inclined surface 26 tapering downwardly and inwardly for cooperation with a correspondingly tapered surface 21 on the base of the peripheral groove 24; The length of the groove 24 is much greater than the length of the stop ring, to permit downward movement of the sleeve valve member I relative to the stop ring.

The ring 25 is received within the enlarged diameter portion 23 of the tubular member, which enlarged portion is also much longer than the height of thestop ring. The stop ring may rest upon a shoulder 28 provided by the lower end of the peripheral groove 24, its upper end being engageable with an upper shoulder 29 of the peripheral groove 24 in the valve member I5. Downward movement of the stop ring is limited by its engagement with a shoulder 30 formed by the lower end of the tubular member groove The shear screws I9 are adapted to be disrupted and the lower inner sleeve valve member I5 moved downwardly to a position in which the upper seal ring I6 is disposed below the ports I4. The ports are then open to the passage of uid from thel interior of the apparatus to *lts exterior.

After the ports have been opened, it is desired to reclose them. To accomplish this purpose, an external sleeve valve member 3| is provided on the tubular member. This external valve member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced seal rings 32, 33 disposed in its internal grooves 34, and slidably engageable with the outer surface of the tubular member Il). The outer member 3| has an'upwardly extending cylinder 35 integral therewith, which is slidable along an enlarged portion I Ila of the tubular member. The outer member 3| is retained initially in an upward position, in which it does not close the ports I4, by one or more shear screws 36 threaded through the cylinder 35 into the enlarged portion Illa of the tubular member. These screws are disruptable hydraulically by uid pressure entering through one or more ports or openings 3'I in the tubular member into a cylinder space 33A provided between the enlarged portion I0a of the tubular member, the cylinder skirt 35 and the portion 3| a of the sleeve valve member carrying the seal rings 32, 33. Leakage in a downward direction between the sleeve valve member 3| and tubular member I0 is prevented by the seal ring 32. Leakage in an upward direction therebetween is prevented by a seal ring 39 disposed in a peripheral groove 43 in the enlarged portion I0a of the tubular member, which sealingly engages the inner surface of the cylinder 35. w

When fluid under pressure of a suilcient degree is allowed to enter through the ports 3'! into the cylinder space 38, the shear screws 36 will be disrupted and this fluid pressure will shift the cuter sleeve valve member 3| downwardly to a position in whichits seal rings 32, 33 are disposed on opposite sides of the ports I4; closing such ports against passage of uids therethrough in both directions between the interior and exterior oi the apparatus. This position of the sleeve valve member 3| is determined by engagement of its depending skirt 4I with the upper end of the stop member I2 welded on to the tubular member coupling II. It is to be noted that the skirt 4I is spaced outwardly from the tubular member I0 so as to avoid interfering with passage of fluids through the ports I4 after they have been opened.

After the outer sleeve valve member 3| has been shifted downwardly to port closing position, it is prevented from moving upwardly again by a latch or lock ring 42 disposed within a peripheral groove 43 in the tubular member I9 above its seal ring 39. This lock ring consists of a split, inherently expansible member having a reduced diameter lower portion 42a, forming a shoulder 44 with the upper portion 42h, which is inclined outwardly in a downward direction to a slight extent. When the outer sleeve valve member 3| has been forced downwardly to its fullest extent, the upper end 35a of the cylinder will be disposed below the shoulder 44 of the split lock ring, but not below the lower end of its reduced diameter portion 42a (see Fig. 5). As a 'matter of fact, the upper part of the cylinder 35 will be in engagement with the outer surface of the reduced diameter portion 42a, the lock ring 42 inherently expanding outwardly to a certain extent upon riding of the cylinder off its upper portion 42e (Fig. 5). Any tendency for the outer sleeve valve member 3| to move upwardly will be limited by'engagement of' the upper cylinder end 35a with thevlock ring shoulder 44, the lock ring being forced against the upper end of the peripheral groove 43.- To insure against inward forcing of the lock ring 42 from engagement with the end 35a of the cylinder, the latter is tapered in the same direction as the shoulder 44, so that the two will remain in snug contact with one another.

At rst, fluid under pressurel is prevented from passing through the openings 31 into the cylinder space 38 by an upper inner sleeve valve member 45 having longitudinally spaced seal rings 46 disposed in ring grooves 41 on opposite sides ofthe ports 37. This valve member is held i in such position by one or more shear screws 48 threaded through the tubular member IIB into the upper valve member 45. Disruption oi the shear screws 48 and downward shifting of the upper sleeve valve member 45 will open the ports 31 and permit fluid under pressure to pass through the latter into the cylinder space 33, in order to shear the cylinder screws l36 and move the outer sleeve valve member 3| downwardly to port closing position.

As stated above, the lower sleeve valve member I5 is held initially in closed position by its shear screws I9. Similarly, the upper sleeve valve member 45 is held in closed position over the cylinder ports 3'I by its shear screws 48, preferably closely adjacent, or in abutting relation with. the lower valve member I9. The upper valve 45 member has a central bore 49 whose wall tapers downwardly and inwardly. Similarly, the lower valve member vI5 has a downwardly and inwardly 1 tapering central bore 50, which, in effect, forms a continuation of the upper member bore 49. The cylinder screws 36 hold the outer valve member 3| in its upper position, the parts all being arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1, occupying positions for lowering the apparatus into a well bore.

With both sets of ports I4, 31 closed, uids, such as cement slurry, may be pumped directly into the casing string and through the central bores or passages 49, 5B in both sleeve valve members 45, I5 for discharge from the well casing at some point below the collar, as, for example, from a casing shoe (not shown). This charge of cement slurry will pass upwardly through the annulus around the casing string and may .extend approximately to the location of the collar A, or slightly thereabove.

When it is desired to eject a charge of cement slurry through the collar ports I4, a trip device or plug member 5I is dropped into the Well casing, and is allowed to gravitate through the fluid 5.. therein Vinto engagement with the wall ofv the central boreV 50 into. the lower inner sleeve.- valve member I5. As. disclosed inthe drawings, this trip device may consist of a substantially spherical head 521having azrubber; or equivalent, spherical seal member 53fclamped thereon vbye. suitable depending extension 54. threaded ona neck 55proiecting downwardly from'the head 52. The interior of the extension may be filled withlead` 56, or similar*Weighting'material,to insure rapid gravitation or descent of the trip device 5I through theluid in the well casing.

lThe seal 531 on the trip'device has a. lesser external diameter than the minimum diameter of the tapered bore 49 in the upper sleeve member, to insurev its complete passage through the latter. The spherical seal, however,v hasvr a diameter greater than the minimum diameteror the bore 5D@ through the Iower valve member I5. As a result, 4the trip'member comes to rest within the lower valve member, with its head 52 and` seal 53 closingits central bore. `or passage. Pressure may now be appliedt'o the fluid in the casing"Y abovethe trip member 5I of an amountk suiiicient' to shear the screws I9` and shift the lower `sleeve valve member I5 downwardly to port opeiiing position, as `shown in Fig. `2. Downward movement ofi the lower valve member is determined'by engagement of the stop ring 25 with the shoulder 3l)y of the tubular member IIJ and ofthe shoulder 29 on thelower sleeve member with. the stop ring; Washing fluid, followed by cement' slurry, may now be discharged outwardlyl throughl the open ports I4, passing through. the. annular space 51 between the tubular member I0 and the depending skirt14l of the outer valve member and thence upwardly through the annulus' around the tubular member and casing, string.

Upon dischargingA the` required quantity. of ce.'-

ment' slurry', the outer'sleeve valve. 3l is forced o' downwardly to port closing position. This act may be accomplished by placing` a top cementing plug 58 at` the upper endv of the charge of cement slurry pumped outwardly through the ports I4. This plug. comes. to rest. partly within the bore 49 ofthe. upper. inner sleeve valve mem-.-v ber 45, allowing the fluid in thercasing string above the collar to be. pressurized. to a suiiicient extent to. shear the. screws 48 and. shift. the,A upper inner valve. member downwardly to aVv position inl which the cylinder ports 31 are open. v

The top cementing plug 58 disclosed in. the

drawings is of acomposite character.` It includes` a lower, generally spherical `head 59 on which a suitable, vgenerally spherical` rubber seal IIl is4 mounted. This seal is. held inposition bythe reception. of itsinte'rnal ilangevl within a.: peripheral grooveZl in` the head.. ,Thehead has an upwardlyextendingtail piece 63. extending. within the` centrally disposed socket: 64 of a flexible cementi'ng plug. 65. These twopartsare secured tovone another by a metallic band E5 embracing the forward neckA portion 61 of. the. plug 65, forcing, its inwardly directed flange. 6.8 into aA companion peripheral groove 69 inthe tail piece: 63.. y l

The` flexible plug 55 is: formed essentially of rubber or similar material. lt'` has anv inwardly compressible body portionr 1i] `defined by tapered forward and rearward surfaces 1I', 12, merging into an annular peripheral sealing: surface 13 slidably engageable. with. the wall of the well casing. Theplug65` has a tail portion 1'4 terminating in a iiuted guide-15. Its annular sealing portion. 13.- has` an upwardly extending.lip` 15u adapted'to.- be. forced. outwardly by" uid pressure againstthe wall of the casing;

Thegenerally spherical seal .60' on the upper cementing plug head 59 has a diameter greater than the: minimum. dia-meter through the upper sleeve: 45.V As ay result, this seal will come to. rest within theftapered bore 49 of the latter, closing it. against passage of fluid` and allowing pressure to be. builtup in the casing fluid above the cementing` plug 58 suiiici'ent inA extent to shear the screws IIB and shift the upper member 45 downwardlyto a position on top of the lower sleeve I5, opening the cylinder ports 31 (Fig. 4). Fluid' under pressure may now be directed outwardlly through the cylinder ports 31 into the cylinder 35' for the purpose of shearing the cylinder screws 36 and moving the outer sleeve. 3l downwardly to port closing position, such as diS- closed' in Fig. 5'. i

deformed inwardly to a suilicient extent, upon application of suflicient'pressurethereto, to allow the iiuid to pass aroundit and enter the ports 31, in'" order to shift thei outer sleeve valve member et to its port closing position. After -the latter has been so shifted, and the pressure ofthe fluid in the casing string bled off, the hydrostatichead of cement: slurry in the casing annulus would tend to shift thef sleeve valve 3I` upwardly again to port vopening position. This tendency isvprevented, however; by engagement of the upper end lufof the cylinder with the shoulder 44 onthe latch ring 42, and bythe abutting of theV latter with the'` upper sid'eofV theperipheral groove 43.

`After the." cement:` has: set and hardened,V all parts withinthe tubular member canv be disintegrated by-fadrilling bit. To facilitate this action, all internal mechanism is preferably made of readily drillable materials, including the cementinglplug head 532 and tail 63, both inner sleeve value: membersl, 45, the stop ring 25; and the trip device 5|.` Such materials may be magnesium, cast. iron, aluminum and the like. During the drilling-out operation, the drilling bit cannot 'act' upon any movable parts which are to remain within thetubularl member IU, since none are present. Accordingly; there is no tendency for the ports I4' to be reopened inadvertently, since the external sleeve valvemember 3l cannot be contacted`by'the drill bit.

The enlarged diameter portion of the internalgro'ove Z3" in the tubular member I0 servesvnot onlylto. contain thev stopring 25 and limit 'its movement; but. vit alsooperates' to allow 'iiuidto bleed upwardly past the lower sleeve valvemember I54 during its downward' movement to port opening position.. Under some conditionsof operation, the casing iiuid below the lower sleeve valve I5 cannot be displaced, since it is a dead but at'the same time prevents downward passage of iiuids along the lower sleeve valve member I5; This latter function prevents the cementing pressure from being imposed upon the fluid in the well casing below the collar A.

' In order to insure that the outer sleeve valve member 3| will move downwardly to its fullest extent, its lower end may be modiedalong the lines indicated in Fig. 6. If cement slurry or other substances become deposited on the stop member l2, the outer sleeve valve member may be prevented from shifting downwardly toits fullest extent. In Fig. 6, the lower end 'I6 of the outer member 3l is tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a kniielike edge 11 slidable along the tubular member Iii and capable of cutting or slicing through any solid materials that might be in its path of movement. With this arrangement, greater assurance is had of moving the outer sleeve valve member 3i downwardlyto its fullest extent, which will allow the lock ring 42 to snap outwardly, over its upper end.

In Fig. 6, fluids may pass outwardly through the open tubular member ports I4 and through ports 18 provided in the depending outer sleeve portion dla above its cutting portion 16.

The top cementing plug is described and claimed in our divisional application for Well Cementing Plug, Serial No. 127,188, led November 14, 1949.

" The inventors claim:

' 1. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially inanelevated position along said tubular member to allow fluid passage through said port; and hydraulically operable means operatively engaging said valve member for shifting said valve member downwardly along said tubular member to port closing position. v

2. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow fluid passage through said port; hydraulically operable means -operatively engaging said y valve member for shifting said valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; said tubular member having an opening through which fluid under pressure can be fed from the interior of said tubular member into saidhydraulically operable means to shift l said hydraulically operable means and valve member to port closing position; and means within said tubular member initially closing said opening.

3. In apparatus of the character described: a, tubular member havinga side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow iiuid passage through said port; hydraulically operable means operatively engaging said valve member for shifting said valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; said tubular member having an opening through which fluid under pressure can be fed from the interior of said tubular member into said hydraulically operable means; an inner sleeve valve; and releasable means securing said inner sleeve valve to said tubular member across :said opening to close the same.

f '4. In apparatus'of the character described: `a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; an inner sleeve valve member disposed initially across said port to close the same; an outer shiftable sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow uid passage through said port; means releasably retaining said outer sleeve valve Vmember in such initial position; and means for directing fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member onto said outer valveimember to release said retaining means and shift Ysaid outer valve member along said tubular member to port closing position.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a lower inner sleeve valve member disposed initially across said port to close the same; an outer sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow iiuid passage through said port; hydraulically operable means operatively engaging said outer sleeve valve member for shifting said outer valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; said tubular member having an opening through which fluid under pressure can be fed into said hydraulically operable means; an upper inner sleeve valve member; and releasable means securing said upperv inner sleeve valve member to said tubular member across said opening to close the same.

6. In apparatus of the character described: a

tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member on the exteriorv of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow fluid passage through said port; means releasably retaining said sleeve valve member in such initial position; means for directing iiuid under pressure. from the interior of said tubular member onto said valve member to release said retaining means and shift said valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; and means for preventing shifting of said valve member from its port vclosing position. '7. Inapparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to' form part of la conduit string positionable in a well bore; a lower inner sleeve valve member disposed initially across said port to close the samejjan outer sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially inv position to allow fluid passage through said port; hydraulically operable means operatively engaging said outer sleeve valve member for shifting said outer valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; said tubular member having an opening through which fluid under pressure can be fed into said hydraulically operable means; an upper inner sleeve valve member; releasable means securing said upper inner sleeve valve member to said tubular member across said opening to close the same; and means carried by said tubular member and engageable with said outer valve member for preventing shifting of said outer valve member from its port closing position.

8. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; means for controlling iiuid ow through said port, comprising a shiftable sleeve :aeearei-c valveon the exterior fof said tubular'member 'having a cylindrical portion lsllidable .along .said

Atubular'lmember'iin leak-proof relation therewith,

.means releasablylretaining said sleeve valve in open position withre'spect torsaidport,1and .means for. directing -uid under pressure from ithe 1in-- -teriorrof saidtubular imember into said cylinder `portion -te :reieasersa'id retaining :means` and 'shift lsaid sleeve valve-'along said :tubular member `'to Vtively:engaging `said valve :memberfor shifting said 'valve member lalong I'Said "tubular .member to port closing position; said tubular member having :an opening through which fluid under pressurecanfbe ied into said hydraulically .operable Vmeans; 4an inner sleeve valve member; relleasable :means securing :said inner sleeve valve membertosaidtubular member acrosssaid open- =ingto .close same; `and means movabledown said conduit :string into engagement `with said inner sleeve :valve member lto enable vrelease Aor said releasing means f.and-dov'rnward shifting of Asaid inner :sleeve valve member, `.said movable means lcomprisingra Aplug adapted to permit duid-to 'bypasssittand enter said opening.

liG. .in `:apparatus Voifthe character described: a tubular member having aside port land :adapted to 'form part :of la `conduit-string positionable iin a t f iwell bore; :asleeve valve member onthe exterior 4zof the saidtubular member :disposed initially in lposition `to allow fiiuid passage through `said port; hydraulically operable means operatively engaging :said valve meniber for `shifting -said valve member along said tubular'member-to 4port closing position; said :tubular vmember having an .opening through which "iiuid'underfpressure canibe yffed into said hydraulicallyoperablemeans; an inner sleeve valve member; releasable means securing said innerlfsleeve'rnember to said tubular member across said opening to close same; and means movable down said conduit string into engage- :ment :with rsaid inner sleeve yvalve member to enable release of said releasing means and downwardA shifting ofsaid .inner sleeve valve member, said movable means comprising a flexible cementing plug adapted to be ydeformed by hydraulic pressurefto allow fluid -to Vbypass said jplug land enter -said opening. v

'911. In apparatus ofthe character described: a tubular member having 'a side portjand adapted'to `Iiormpart of a conduit "string positionable `in a well bore; a sleeve valve member ion thev exterior of fthe saidtubular member idisposed initially in position toallow uidipassagethrough said port; hydraulically operable vmeans operatively engaging said valve 'member -for shifting said -valve member along said-tubular'member' to porticlosing position; 'said' Vtubular'member 'having an "opening through which fluid under pressure can be fed into said hydraulically operable means; an inner sleeve valve member; releasable means securing said inner sleeve valve member to said tubular member acrosssaid opening to close the same; a cementing plug adapted to be pumped down said conduit string, said plug comprising a forward head engageable with said inner sleeve valve member to close its central passage and a flexible member secured to said head and adapted to be ,deformed by hydraulic pressure to allow iiuidfto bypass @said flexible `memberand enter said opening.

12. Ln apparatus .of `the character described: a .tubular member. :having fa side port rand adapted Ito form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a sleeve valve member on the :exterior of said tubular member disposed `'initially iin vp osition to allow iiuid passage through said port; ,hydraulically `.Operable means operatively engag- :ing :said valve :member for Vshifting said valve memberalong said tubular member to port closing position; said tubular member having yan :opening :through which fluid under pressure fcan be fed into .said hydraulicaliy `operable means; an .inner sleeve valve member; releas able means :securing said inner sleeve :valve member :to nsaid tubular member across l'said opening to 'close the same; a cementing `plug adapted to b e pumped Vfdown said :conduit string, said Lplug "comprising vaforward rigid head portion, an .'elastidgenerally "spherical seal -on z.the A-forward surface :of said :head portion engageable .with said inner sleeve Avalve member, varielastic lrearward :portion secured to said head portionand having a .body compressible `inwardli7 `by hydraulic pressure to Iallow iiuid vto by-.pass `said body and enter said opening,` Isaid body being `ada-ptedffor Islidable sealing engagement with the wall oi a Well conduit.

'1351111 apparatus .of the character described: fa 'tubular member having aside port and adapted to form part fof a conduit string positiona'ble in ua well bore; `a 'shiftable sleeve valveirnember on-the exterior fof lsaid tubular 4member disposed initially in position 'to allow lu'idpassage through said port, said `shiftable valve member including hydraulicall-y operable means; said itubular member Ihaving .an 7opening for directing uid :under -pressure Vfrom the interior of -said tubular Amember onto said hydraulically `operable means -to -shift lsaid valve member {alo-ng Avsaid tubular member to port closing position.

14. In Iapparatus vof fthe character described: -a

. Atubular member having aside port andfadapted to Y form part-oi-a conduitstringpositionable Iin a well bore; 'a shiftable sleeve valve member on the eX`- teriorloi saiditubular member, saidshiftable-sleeve valve member including Alfiydraulically operable means; `means releasably securing said valve memberfto said tubular member Vinitially vin posi'- tionto tallow fluid passage through said'port: said tubular member khaving an vopening for directing fluid lunder ipressure from the Linterior of said tubular vmember onto said hydraulically operable means "to release saidcsecuring means and Ashift said valve member Valong `the tubular member to port closing position.

l5; 1n apparatus -of the character-(described: a tubular member :having Ia side port and adapted toformpart rof -a lconduit string positionable lin a well bore; `an linner shiftable'sleeve Vvalve member disposed initially V'across said port to closethe same; anouter shiftable sleeve "valve vmember on the exterior fof said tubular member disposedinitia'lly `position to allow *fluid passage through said port, said outer shiftable valve member including hydraulically operable means; said tubular member having an opening for directing uid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member onto said hydraulically operable means to shift said outer valve member along said tubular member to port closing position.

16. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted Aaceaoie tofforn' part of a conduit string positionable in' a well bore; a lower inner sleeve valve member disposed initially across said port to close the same;

:an outer sleeve valve member on the exterior of -saidv tubular means; means releasably securlng said outer sleeve valve member to said tubular member onto said outer valve member to release -said securing means and shift said outer valve Amember along said tubular member to port closing position; an upper inner sleeve valve member;

and releasable means securing said upper inner sleeve valve member'to said tubular member across said opening to close the saine` 17. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapt- Aed to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a lower inner sleeve valve member disposed initially across said port to close `the same; an outer sleeve valve member on the exterior of said tubular'means, said outer valve .member having an annular cylinder portionY forming an annular cylinder space with said tubular member; means releasably securing said outer sleeve valve member to said tubular mem- 4ber initially in position to allow fluid passage through said port; said tubular member having an opening through which iluid under pressure can be fed from the interior of said tubular member into said cylinderspace for action upon said annular cylinder portion in order to release said securing means and shift said outer valve member along said tubular member to port closing position; an upper inner sleeve valve member; and releasable means securing said upper inner sleeve Valve member to said tubular member across said opening to close the same.

118. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable Vin a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member on the exterior oi said tubular member, said valve member having an annular cylinder portion forming an annular cylinder space with said tubular member; means releasably securing `said sleeve valve member to said tubular member initially in position to allow fluid passage through said port; said tubular member having an opening through which fluid under pressure 'can be fed from the interior of said tubular member into said cylinder space for action upon said annular cylinder portion in order to release said securing means and shift said valve member along said tubular member to port closing position.

19. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form partof a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member Yon the exterior of said tubular member disposed initially in position to allow uid Y passage through said port; means for directing fluid under pressure'from the interior of said tubular member onto said valve `,member to shift said Vvalve member along said tubular member to port closing position; an outwardly expansible lock ring carried by said tubular member and engaged and held contracted by said valve member when said valve member is in position to allow uid passage through said port, said ring having a reduced diameter portion forming a shoulder engaged by a companion shoulder on said valve member when said valve member has been shifted to port closing position to prevent shifting cf said valve member from its port closing position, said lock ring expanding when said valve member has been shifted to port closing position to place said reduced diameter portion in contact with said valve member to limit outward expansion of said lock ring; and coengageable means on said ring and tubular member to limit longitudinal movement of said ring along said tubular member.

20. In apparatus of the character described: a tubular member having a side port and adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore; a shiftable sleeve valve member movable longitudinally along said tubular member to control iluid flow through said port; an outwardly expansible lock ring carried by said tubular member and engaged and held contracted by said valve member when said valve member occupies one position with respect to said port, said ring having a reduced diameter portion forming a shoulder engaged by a companion shoulder on said valve member when said valve member has been shifted to another position with respect to said port to prevent shifting of said valve member from said other position with respect to said port, said lock ring expanding when said valve member has been shifted to said other position to place said reduced diameter portion in contact with said valve member to limit outward expansion of said lock ring; and coengageable means on said ring and tubular member to limit longitudinal movement of said ring along said tubular member.

REUBEN C. BAKER. JOHN R. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

